Religious Decline in U.S. Follows Europe
 

http://www.humaniststudies.org/enews/?id=281&article=0

Is the U.S. following Europe in becoming less religious and more humanist? This is the tantalizing prospect held out by some recent surveys.

Matt Cherry, IHS Executive DirectorA new survey in the U.S. shows that the number of 18-25 year olds who are atheist, agnostic or nonreligious has increased from 11 percent in 1986 to 20 percent today. Meanwhile a survey of the United States and the five largest countries in Western Europe reveals that religious belief continues to plummet in Europe, with Italy being the only country with a majority believing in any form of God or supreme being. And even in these overwhelmingly godless countries, the young are still significantly less religious than their elders.

A survey of young people ages 18-25 by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press includes encouraging news about the growth of humanist beliefs among the so-called "Generation Next." Among the findings:

* One-in-five members of "Generation Next" say they have no religious affiliation or are atheist or agnostic, nearly double the proportion of young people who said that in the late 1980s.
* Nexters are among the least likely to attend church regularly: 32 percent attend at least once a week compared with 40 percent of those over age 25.
* Nearly two-thirds of Nexters (63 percent) believe humans and other living things evolved over time. By contrast, Americans over the age of 40 favor Creationist accounts over evolutionary theory.
* Nexters are the most tolerant of any generation on social issues such as immigration, race and homosexuality.
* Nexters are among the most likely to say the will of the American people, not the Bible, should be a more important influence on U.S. laws.
* And just 4 percent of Gen Nexters say people in their generation view becoming more spiritual as their most important goal in life.

Re: Religious Decline in U.S. Follows Europe
 

This is why we have "Jesus Camp" and mega-churches. So that guys like Ted Haggard can have his way with your kids for 30 hrs a week while your hubby works on the truck and you go get pie eyed with the gals.;)

http://paulaoffutt.com/pics/redneck/wood_jack.jpg

Re: Religious Decline in U.S. Follows Europe
 

The more I look at that picture, the more harzards I see this clod is subjecting himself to.

The 2x4s holding up the truck.
Welding the gas tank?
His back is right up agains the boards, too. He just needs to slip his collosal ass back a couple inches and he's history.
All Around...Do you know if this guy actually survived?

Re: Religious Decline in U.S. Follows Europe
 

You'll be pleased to know this brainiac survived it. And reproduced with his alcoholic wife. They have a family of ten in Mississippi.

Re: Religious Decline in U.S. Follows Europe
 

And this is indeed very disturbing. Popular doesnt mean right.

Re: Religious Decline in U.S. Follows Europe
 

How heart warming.

Re: Religious Decline in U.S. Follows Europe
 

Sad really when you look at European demographics and realize they are a dying civilization, maybe we'll go the same way.

Atheism doesn't seem to be working out for them.

Re: Religious Decline in U.S. Follows Europe
 

Good one Brown :singing:

These guys are all over Maine, they wear tee shirts all winter they are to stupid to know that it's cold.

Re: Religious Decline in U.S. Follows Europe
 

Europe is doing just fine, and I'll take my chance with atheism over theism any day.

Re: Religious Decline in U.S. Follows Europe
 

Look at the birth rates and population projections. If that is your definition of fine...:confused: